Moving picture and sound cabinet



Feb. 4, 1936. w R BULL 2,029,306-

MOVING PICTURE AND SOUND CABINET Filed Dec. 10, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.:L

INVENTOR 7 BY %AM 44% ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1936. w R BULL 2,029,306

MOVING PICTURE AND SOUND CABINET Filed Dec. 10, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS 5 8m l I a 5 ze lL l g Q n at 1 I llll INVENTOR BY k ATTORNEY Patented F ch. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to arrangement and construction of a cabinet moving picture apparatus and which is especially adapted to have combined therewith radio receiving apparatus, a stereopticon, a phonograph or the like.

t is the main object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the character as indicated which shall be eflicient in operation, pleasing in appearance and well adapted to be included unobtrusively in the furniture of a room.

Radio and moving picture cabinets have usually been constructed of the same horizontal dimensions for practically the entire height. If, however, the upper part of the cabinet is made of less depth so that it does not extend so far into the room, the article is very much more pleasing in appearance and unobtrusive.

In fact it has been found that a form of cabinet similar to the old and well known article of furniture known as a secretary is well adapted for the ends in view, and it is therefore a further object of the invention to so construct and arrange moving picture apparatus &c. with relation to its various parts and to the cabinet that a cabinet similar to a secretary may be employed.

It is a further object of the invention to advantageously arrange the moving picture apparatus and radio receiving apparatus with relation to each other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction and relationship of moving picture apparatus and radio apparatus with relation to each other and to the cabinet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved corfitruction of moving picture apparatus, stereopticon and a cabinet for the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and relationship of moving picture apparatus, sound producing apparatus and a cabinet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction and relationship of moving picture apparatus, radio receiving apparatus and sound producing apparatus.

Other and ancillary ob ects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet according to the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the cabinet of Fig. 1 with the upper doors open to show the screen in operative position and the lower doors openiand partly broken away) to and relationship disclose the apparatus in the bottom of the cabinet; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the cabinet comprises the lower portion I and the upper portion 2, the upper portion being of less depth than the-lower portion. The front of the lower portion is ordinarily closed by the hinged doors 3 and I separated by the vertical line 5 midway of the cabinet, the doors being decorated upon their outsides so as to simulate a chest of drawers as shown.

The front of the shallower upper portion of the cabinet may be closed by the hinged doors 6 and b, which are separated along the central vertical line 1. The outer faces of these doors may be made to simulate the usual glass fitted doors of a bookcase. The intermediate front portion of the cabinet may be closed by a lid 8 hinged at its bottom to the cabinet by a hinge 9 having a substantially horizontal axis. The lid is adapted to be opened about the hinge into a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3, in which position additional supports, such as slides 50, may be moved outwardly beneath it. This lid may be moved into its closed position wherein it is inclined as shown in Fig. 1, and by the dotted lines of Fig. 3, by turning it upwardly about the hinge 9. When in this position the supporting slides I0 may be slid backwardly into the cabinet.

A moving picture projector II, which may be of any suitable and well known construction, projects the picture projecting rays against the inclined reflector l2 mounted on the cabinet shallow upper portion of the cabinet to a second reflector I3, and thence to the picture screen M of frosted glass or of other suitable construction adapted to produce the picture in well known ways, the projected rays being transmitted through the screen to the eye of the observer who will be stationed in front of the cabinet.-

The picture screen I4 is mounted at an angle to the vertical so that its forward surface faces downwardly, in a frame I 5 slidable back and forth through the opening H5 in the front of the shallow upper portion of the cabinet, which opening is adapted to be closed by the doors 8' and t. The reflector i3 is hinged to the upper portion of the frame at IT, and secured to the lower back 7 side of the reflector I 3 is a rod I8 which extends beyond the edges of the reflector and enters with in slots l9 formed between the brackets 28 on either side of the reflector and the back of the cabinet. Each of the brackets is secured to whence the rays are projected upwardly into the 1 the cabinet in any suitable way. The result of this construction is that when the picture screen frame is pushed back into the cabinet, the upper end of the reflector I3 is moved inwardly and the inner end of the reflector is moved downwardly, being guided in such movement by the rod 18, .the ends of which are retained by the brackets 20. At the inward limit of movement of the screen the reflector l3 and screen M will occupy the positions as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The screen, frame and reflector will then all be located within the shallow upper portion of the cabinet and the doors 6 and 6 may be closed. Conversely when it is desired to exhibit the pictures, the doors may be opened and the screen moved outwardly, the reflector l3 having its upper end move outwardly with the screen and its lower end move upwardly within the brackets so that it will automatically assume the proper position to reflect the projecting rays upon the screen.

It will be seen that as the frame I5 is pulled outwardly there will be an opening 2| formed between the screen, frame and the cabinet through which light might be admitted back of the screen and interfere with the showing of the picture. To avoid this a strip 22 adapted to fill this opening is mounted to slide on guides in the sides of the cabinet and overlaps the upper portion of the screen frame. Furthermore the lower portion of the strip 22 is provided with a broad channel 23 within which enters the flange 24 on the edge of the screen frame. The strip and screen frame are thus connected by a lost motion connection which causes the strip to be moved a less distance than the frame in both.

directions of movement with the result that the opening referred to is effectively covered and yet the parts are suitably related so that they may properly fold to be confined within the limit of the cabinet. Thus with the parts in the position as shown in Fig. 3, if the screen be pushed backwardly into the cabinet it will move for some distance without moving the strip 22. When, however, this flange 24 comes against the back wall of the channel 23, the strip will move with the frame, and practically overlying the same, into the cabinet. With the reverse operation, that is on movement of the screen frame outwardly, the frame .will move for a distance equal to the width of the channel 23 Without moving the strip 22. When, however, this flange 24 comes against the outer side of the channel 23, the strip will be moved outwardly to cover the opening between the frame and the cabinet as referred to.

Intermediate of the cabinet between the screen and the projector is a radio receiving set which may be of any suitable and well known construction comprising the box 25 for including the receiving apparatus and also including the tuning dial 26, the tuning knob 21 and the volume control knob 28 as is well understood in connection with radio receiving sets.

This set is slidably mounted to move back and forth upon the horizontal surface 29 and the supporting guides 30 secured to the cabinet at each end of the radio set. When the radio set is moved into itsenclosed position within the cabinet as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the closure 8 may be turned into the inclined position as shown in dotted lines to close the opening in front of the radio set. When it is desired to use the set the closure 8 is turned down into the horizontal position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and the radio set slid forward into the position as shown in full lines. Conversely, when it is not desired to use the radio set, it can be slid inwardly and the closure 8 moved into closing position.

It will be observed that the radio set, when in its closed or unused position, is in the path of the projection of the picture rays. It is consequently necessary to move the radio set outwardly, to avoid interference with the picture projection, whenever the picture screen is put into operation. To insure that this will be done the rear lower edge of the frame I5 is provided with a projection or flange 3| which overlaps the back of the radio set. In consequence the radio set will be moved outwardly, out of the path of projection, whenever the picture screen is moved into operative position. It will be observed, however, that the radio set can be moved inwardly and outwardly independently of the picture screen as will be the case when it is desired to use the radio set, but to not use the picture ap set is moved outwardly without so moving the screen frame, which is left in the cabinet, the screen frame is supported by supporting guides on the cabinet on either side of the screen.

Sound producing apparatus for producing the talking accompaniment to the pictures may be provided by any suitable and well known means, as for instance the phonograph disk table 32 suitably motivated and synchronized with the movements of the projecting apparatus as is well understood. This sound producing mechanism and the moving picture projector may be mounted upon a wheeled platform 33 running upon a track 34 extending laterally of the casing and by means of which the carried apparatus may be moved into proximity to an opening in the side of the cabinet which is closed by the door 35. Convenient access is thus gained to the apparatus for inspection, repairs, threading in of the film and the like.

A loud speaker 39 communicating with the ex terior of the cabinet through the opening 40 in the cabinet top may be operatively connected through an amplifier 4| either with the sound producing means 32 or the radio set. The construction and connections between the loud speaker, amplifier and radio set or sound producing means, may be any that is suitable. The construction of a loud speaker, amplifier and radio set and also the connections of the phonograph or other sound pro.- ducing means 32 through an amplifier with a loud speaker are well known and require no further F5 description.

It may also be that instead of moving pictures, still pictures may be desired. To this end a stereopticon 36 maybe movably mounted on the casing by means of the pivoted arm 31. When the moving picture projector is in operative position the stereopticon 36 will be swung into inoperative position wherein it is held by the pivoted hook 38. This positioning of the parts is shown in Fig. 2. If now it be desired to utilize the stereopticon in place of the moving picture projector the wheeled platform is moved to the right (Fig. 2) and the stereopticon is released and swung down into the position with relation to the reflectors and screen formerlyoccupied by the moving picture projector. The stereopticon or still pictures will then be exhibited upon the screen II. The doors 3 and 4 afford access at such times as may be desired to the entire width of the bottom portion of the cabinet.

While the invention has been illustrated in what is considered its best application it may have other embodiments without departing from its spirit and is not therefore limited to the structure shown in the drawings.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a cabinet comprising a lower portion and an upper portion of less depth than said lower portion, of a motion picture projector in said lower portion, a picture screen at the front of said upper portion and means for directing the projecting light rays to said picture screen, said picture screen being slidably mounted to move forwardly and backwardly with relation to and outside of said upper cabinet portion and over said lower portion whereby the screen may be moved into and out of operative projection position, said light ray directing means being movably mounted to adjust its angle with the vertical.

2. The combination with a'cabinet comprising a lower portion and an upper portion of less depth than said lower portion, of a motion picture projector in said lower portion, a picture screen at the front of said upper portion and means for directing the projecting light rays to said picture screen, said picture screen being slidably mounted to move forwardly and backwardly with relation to said upper cabinet portion, said light ray directing means being movably mounted to adjust its angle with the vertical, and said screen and light ray directing means being connected in operative mechanical relation whereby the sliding of the screen operates to adjust the said light ray directing means.

3. The combination with a cabinet comprising a lower portion and an upper portion of less depth than said lower portion, of a picture projector in said lower portion and forward of the front face of said upper portion, said projector directing the projecting light rays rearwardly of said cabinet, means for directing said rays upwardly from said lower portion into the narrower upper portion of the cabinet, a picture screen at the forward part of said upper portion and means for directing said rays forwardly of said upper portion to said screen, said picture screen being slidably mounted to move forwardly and backwardly of the cabinet and the last mentioned ray directing means being movably mounted to adjust its angle to the vertical and said screen and last mentioned ray-directing means being operatively mechanically connected whereby movement of said screen operates to adjust the said last mentioned ray-directing means.

4. The combination with a cabinet comprising a lower portion and an upper portion of less depth than said lower portion, of a moving picture projecting apparatus in said lower portion adapted to project the projecting light rays u'pwardly into the upper narrower portion of the cabinet, a picture screen in said upper portion and a reflector in said upper portion adapted to reflect said rays forwardly in said cabinet to said screen and a stereopticon located in said lower portion and interchangeable with said moving picture projecting apparatus to project pictures on said screen, means for directing said stereopticon into projecting position and means for directing said projecting apparatus into projecting position.

5. The combination with a cabinet comprising a lower portion and an upper portion of less depth than said lower portion, of a moving picture projecting apparatus in said lower portion adapted to project the projecting light rays upwardly into the upper narrower portion of the cabinet, a picture screen in said upper portion and a reflector in said upper portion adapted to reflect said rays forwardly in said cabinet to said screen and a stereopticon located in said lower portion and interchangeable with said moving picture projecting apparatus to project pictures on said screen, means for directing said stereopticon into projecting position, means for directing said projecting apparatus into projection position and sound producing means in said lower cabinet portion.

6. The combination with a cabinet comprising a lower portion and an upper portion of less depth than said lower portion, of a moving picture projecting apparatus in said lower portion adapted to project the projecting light rays upwardly into the upper narrower portion of the cabinet, a picture screen in said upper portion anda reflector in said upper portion adapted to reflect said rays forwardly in said cabinet to said screen and a stereopticon located in said lower portion and interchangeable with said moving picture projecting apparatus to project pictures on said screen, means for directing said stereopticon into projecting position, means for directing said projecting apparatus into projecting position and sound producing means in said lower cabinet portion and a loud speaker for said sound producing means opening through the top of said upper cabinet portion.

7. The combination with a cabinet, of picture projecting apparatus therein, a picture screen cooperating with said projection apparatus and slidably mounted to move forwardly and rearwardly of the cabinet and radio receiving apparatus mounted to move forwardly and backwardly in said cabinet and means for operatively relating said screen and said radio apparatus whereby movement of said screen forwardly is accompanied by a forward movement of said-radio apparatus, but said radio apparatus may be moved forwardly without moving said screen.

WILLIAM R. BULL. 

